Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-13

attacks. In Santa Ana it is quite pre-
valent; it is also observed in Sacra-
mento, st. Helena, Modesto, Watson
Vile. Etna Mills, Truckee, Stockton,
San Jose, Amador City, Millville, and
Oakland.
Whooping cough is prevalent in Al
turas, Salinas City, Cottonwood,
Bakersfield, Mariposa, Cloverdale, Le-
moooe and Downey. In regard to
whooping cough, we notice that the
Attorney General of the State Of
Michigan has rendered decision that
this disease must be classed among
those diseases which are dangerous to
public health, and which are there
fore under the law to be reported by
the attending physician to the Health
Officer. He bases his decision upon
the fact that, while for ten years the
average deaths from smallpox were
only SO per year, in whooping cough
for the same period the average deaths
were l56.
Erysipelas has been noticed in
Downey, Truckee, Williams, Ander-
son, Anaheim, Millville, Santa Ana,
Salinas, Jolon, and San Jose. The
type is mild, and the mortality exceed
ingly limited.
Typhoid fever, contrary to our ex-
pectations, is not mentioned with
greater frequency than in our last re.
ports. 1t has appeared in Sacramento.
Etna Mills. Colfax, Hills Ferry, Sa-
lnas City, Sonora, Nicolaus, Anaheim,
Los Angeles, Placerville, San Jose,
San Diego, Santa Ana, Stockton, Oak
land, and San Francisco. The cases
are sporadic, without any tendency to
assume an epidemic form.
Typhoid-malarial fever is noticed
with greater frequency than typhoid
in Truckee, Downey, Lockeford, An
derson, Etna Mills, Nicolaus, Mill
vile, Arbuckle, Weaverville, Modesto,
Red Bluff and Redding.
Remittent and intermittent fevers
are quite prevalent along the rivers
and watercourses; they are, however,
moderate in intensity and yield readily
to treatment.
Pneumonia is noticed in many of
the reports received, not, however, in
sufficient number to call for comment
as prevailing generally. With the ad-
vent of cool weather, we may look for
an increase in disease of the respira-
tory organs, especially in the preva-
lence OF bronchitis and influenza.
Cholera.-We regret to say that
cholera has been imported, upon the
steamer Alesia, into New York, and,
although the chances of it's spreading
have been materially lessened by the
precautions taken by the health
officers, we fear the future. When
we recollect that single article of
clothing infected with the cholera
germs may be laid away for months
and then, on exposure, develop the
pestilence, we are not satisfied with
the fumigation process instituted in
this case as thoroughly reliable and
effectually germicidal. We believe
that all the clothes on the Alesia
should have been burned, and, for
that matter, we believe it would have
been cheaper for New York to have
burned ship. cargo and all, rather
than that the cholera germ should
survive to start an epidemic. We
must not trust to chance in this mat
ter, but anticipate the worst, and en-
deavor to avert it's consequences by
sounding the alarm now and insisting
upon our cities, towns and villages
giving to their inhabitants the three
great essentials of healthy life, viz. {:
pure water, pure health, and pure
soil. In order to do this, all sources
of contamination ought to be removed ;
all privy and cesspool denominations
should be deodorized, disinfected, and
carried away where they may be rem
dered harmless by mixing with dry
earth, and then using as fertilizers.
No town can afford to invite cholera
where it can be avoided by perfect
cleanliness and combined sanitary
effort. Every town should now organ
ize local Board of Health, appoint
an active, wide-awake Health Officer,
and give him united support in doing
his duty. There is no longer any
doubt whatever that cholera can be
deprived OF its power of extension by
sanitary effort. as without food it can
not live. Its food is filth, decaying
organic matter, and soil contamination.
Any community that refuses or neg
lects to use the means requisite to put
and keep its surroundings in good
wholesome condition, deserves the
fate that will most assuredly befall it
if epidemic disease makes its appear
ance in its midst.